Spain - Pamplona - San Fermín Festival

San Fermín festival in Pamplona, Spain.

Sent by Mirian from Spain.

This is from Wikipedia : The festival of San Fermín (or Sanfermines, Basque: Sanferminak) in the city of Pamplona (Navarre, Spain), is a deeply rooted celebration held annually from 12:00, 6 July, when the opening of the fiesta is marked by setting off the pyrotechnic chupinazo, to midnight 14 July, with the singing of the Pobre de Mí. While its most famous event is the encierro, or the running of the bulls, which happens at 8:00 am from July 7th to July 14th, the week-long celebration involves many other traditional and folkloric events. It is known locally as Sanfermines and is held in honor of Saint Fermin, the co-patron of Navarre. Its events were central to the plot of The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway, which brought it to the general attention of English-speaking people. It has become probably the most internationally renowned fiesta in Spain. Over 1,000,000 people come to watch this festival.

Fermin is said to have been the son of a Roman of senatorial rank in Pamplona in the 3rd century, who was converted to Christianity by Saint Honestus, a disciple of Saint Saturninus. According to tradition, he was baptised by Saturninus (in Navarre also known as Saint Cernin) at the spot now known as the "Small Well of Saint Cernin" Fermin was ordained a priest in Toulouse and returned to Pamplona as its first bishop. On a later preaching voyage, Fermin was beheaded in Amiens, France; and is now considered a martyr in the Catholic Church. It is believed he died on September 25, AD 303. There is no written record of veneration in Pamplona of the Saint until the 12th century. Saint Fermin, as well as Saint Francis Xavier, are now the two patrons of Navarre. At Pamplona, Saint Fermin; is now sometimes said to have met his end by being dragged through the streets of Pamplona by bulls, a fate more commonly attributed to his mentor, Saturnin.

Spain - Navarra - The House of San Francisco de Javier

NAVARRA - SPAIN
Castillo de Javier

Sent by Mirian, a postcrosser from Navarra, Spain.

"Here important works of art are housed, such as a Spanish painting collection from the 15th to 20th centuries and a Japanese kimono from the 19th century. There are also a number of historic documents.

It dates back to the 5th century. The patron saint of the Comunidad Foral de Navarra was born in 1506. It was the family residence of several leading families such as the Artieda, the Jaso-Azpilicueta, and the Aznárez. The fortress has undergone various transformations throughout its history. The New Palace was constructed adjoining it at the end of the 15th century. It is now occupied by a basilica dating from the 20th century. Inside the castle, special mention should be made of an 18th century Flemish encaustic work, representing the agony of San Francisco de Javier, a 16th century altarpiece in polychromed alabaster representing the Adoration of the Magi, and various murals centring on the Dance of Death. Another of its treasures is the Cristo Chapel, headed by a 15th century polychromed wooden carving of Christ on the cross. There are also six huge, outstanding Baroque canvasses, work of Godofredo Maes, as well as a sculpture of Francisco de Javier, dated around 1622, the year of the saint's canonisation. The castle became a museum in 1986, after major archaeological restoration work."

Practical info
Construction: Castle

Origin: 10th century

Artistic period: Gothic

Historic period: 10th century

(Source)